ILOILO City — The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 is mobilizing more than 904,000 learners and thousands of school personnel across Western Visayas for the Second Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) this June 18, underscoring the urgency of disaster preparedness following the deadly magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao earlier this month.
DepEd-6 called on all learners, teachers, school heads, and personnel to actively participate in the 9 a.m. drill, stressing that earthquake preparedness can save lives when disasters strike without warning.
“Let us all come together and take part in the 2nd Quarter NSED this June 18, 2026 at 9 a.m. This activity is not just a routine — it is a lifesaving practice that prepares everyone to respond effectively during real emergencies,” the agency said in an advisory.
The regional office emphasized that earthquake drills are essential because earthquakes occur suddenly, leaving little or no time for preparation.
According to DepEd-6, practicing the “Duck, Cover, and Hold” technique and familiarizing learners and personnel with evacuation procedures can significantly improve safety during actual emergencies.
“To all school heads, teachers, learners, and personnelv— your participation matters. Let us work hand in hand to ensure safety protocols are followed, evacuation plans are clear, and everyone is informed and ready,” DepEd-6 added.
As part of the exercise, schools have been directed to organize and activate their Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) teams, conduct reorientation sessions on “Duck, Cover, and Hold” procedures and evacuation protocols, hold pre- and post-activity briefings, intensify information and education campaigns, and ensure the availability of safe evacuation routes and assembly areas.
The regional office’s appeal comes in the wake of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the Mindanao region on June 8 during the opening of classes, resulting in the deaths of 61 people.
As of June 10, DepEd-6 reported a total enrollment of 904,924 learners in Western Visayas, including 466,826 in elementary, 296,945 in junior high school, and 141,153 in senior high school.
Of the total enrollees, 832,053 are attending public schools, 81,053 are enrolled in private schools, while 818 are studying in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs)./PN
